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Half of UK butterfly species show numbers up on last year Half of UK butterfly species show numbers up on last year
(35 minutes later)
Butterflies did better than feared in the wet and miserable weather across much of the UK in July and August, experts have said.Butterflies did better than feared in the wet and miserable weather across much of the UK in July and August, experts have said.
More than half of the 20 species recorded by the public in the Big Butterfly Count showed better numbers than they did last year, although people braving the soggy conditions saw fewer butterflies on average than in 2014, charity Butterfly Conservation said.More than half of the 20 species recorded by the public in the Big Butterfly Count showed better numbers than they did last year, although people braving the soggy conditions saw fewer butterflies on average than in 2014, charity Butterfly Conservation said.
One butterfly species managed to defy the parasitic wasp which lays eggs in its caterpillars, eventually killing them, to see numbers bounce back after a series of steep declines.One butterfly species managed to defy the parasitic wasp which lays eggs in its caterpillars, eventually killing them, to see numbers bounce back after a series of steep declines.
The garden favourite, the holly blue butterfly, whose numbers boom and bust because of the parasitic wasp, saw a 151% increase in numbers compared to last year, its best showing in the count since 2010.The garden favourite, the holly blue butterfly, whose numbers boom and bust because of the parasitic wasp, saw a 151% increase in numbers compared to last year, its best showing in the count since 2010.
When numbers of both species are low, the holly blue can quickly build its population but the wasp soon catches up to take advantage of the booming numbers of caterpillars and the butterfly’s population crashes.When numbers of both species are low, the holly blue can quickly build its population but the wasp soon catches up to take advantage of the booming numbers of caterpillars and the butterfly’s population crashes.
Related: The big butterfly count 2015 – in pictures
The holly blue has been struggling in recent summers but bounced back this year as it enjoyed a temporary advantage over the wasp.The holly blue has been struggling in recent summers but bounced back this year as it enjoyed a temporary advantage over the wasp.
Elsewhere in the count, the gatekeeper claimed top spot as the most commonly seen species with numbers up 17% on last year, while the large white butterfly recovered from a fall seen last year to claim second spot with a 46% rise.Elsewhere in the count, the gatekeeper claimed top spot as the most commonly seen species with numbers up 17% on last year, while the large white butterfly recovered from a fall seen last year to claim second spot with a 46% rise.
Overall, people spotted an average of 13.4 butterflies per count compared to 14.7 in 2014, as the damp condition proved less than ideal for the sun-loving insects. Overall, people spotted an average of 13.4 butterflies per count compared with 14.7 in 2014, as the damp condition proved less than ideal for the sun-loving insects.
Common garden butterflies the peacock and small tortoiseshell both saw numbers fall by more than half compared to last summer, while red admirals and speckled wood butterflies experienced falls of a quarter on 2014’s count.Common garden butterflies the peacock and small tortoiseshell both saw numbers fall by more than half compared to last summer, while red admirals and speckled wood butterflies experienced falls of a quarter on 2014’s count.
People had been asked to keep an eye out for common blue butterflies while at the coast, but numbers were down 12% on last year.People had been asked to keep an eye out for common blue butterflies while at the coast, but numbers were down 12% on last year.
A record 52,000 people took part in the count this year, spotting 600,000 butterflies.A record 52,000 people took part in the count this year, spotting 600,000 butterflies.
Butterfly Conservation’s head of recording Richard Fox said: “One of the highlights of this year’s count was the holly blue.Butterfly Conservation’s head of recording Richard Fox said: “One of the highlights of this year’s count was the holly blue.
“This delightful, azure-blue butterfly was much more common this summer in gardens, towns, parks and in the countryside.“This delightful, azure-blue butterfly was much more common this summer in gardens, towns, parks and in the countryside.
“I didn’t see a single one last summer but they seemed to be everywhere this year.”“I didn’t see a single one last summer but they seemed to be everywhere this year.”